Posted on: Friday, February 14, 2003

Japanese center welcomes public input

Advertiser Staff

The new leadership of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii has invited the public to give its suggestions on ways to improve center operations at a pair of open forums.

The forums are set for 9 a.m. to noon tomorrow and 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Mo'ili'ili center, 2454 S. Beretania St.

The center, which had been carrying a $9 million debt, is about $400,000 short of clearing all bills. The fund-raising effort that staved off foreclosure on the center Dec. 31 is continuing, and the center's board hopes to be in the black by the end of June, said Fujio Matsuda, the newly elected board chairman.

The board has established committees to recommend a restructuring plan for the center and is collecting ideas for that plan at the forums, Matsuda said.

To begin the planning process, members, donors and the public are invited to meetings to express their ideas about future directions for the center. Validated parking during the meetings is available for $2 in the center parking structure.

For information, contact Brandon Hayashi at 845-2255 or e-mail ourjcch@yahoo.com.

Donations may be sent to: The Committee to Save the Center, 3660 Wai'alae Ave., Suite 301, Honolulu, HI 96816. Make checks payable to Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii with the notation, "Save the Center."